The Virus.
It’s easy to feel sort of paralyzed right now–and that’s okay. I’m having a hard time thinking about sticking to my normal schedule when I really just want to scroll the newsfeeds, searching for a crumb of hope.
My kid nailed it when she said, ‘They canceled fun!’
Luckily, I haven’t been laid off and the library I work at is closed, but since I’m a county employee, I’m now in Disaster Service Worker status. That means I could get deployed to assist other departments during this crisis.
The public servant in me is excited to help, but the mom in me wants to be home with her family, helping with school work and lovingly yelling at her husband.
I’m feeling slightly anxious about not knowing where I’ll be going or what I’ll be doing.
*update 3.24.20* I’ve been deployed to our homeless care and shelter unit to help coordinate shelter for sick folks. Way better than staying at home worrying!
With the stay-at-home order for California, it seems there’s a range of situations: from working from home to filing for unemployment, from having a closet brimming with toilet paper to not having money for any essentials.
Maybe you’re sick and riding it out at home, or you’re afraid to go out because you have underlying health conditions.
Whatever your situation, you might be wondering where to go for credible updates and advice without getting sucked into the media frenzy surrounding The Virus.
Here’s a Tiny roundup of librarian-approved resources; I will make updates to this info as things evolve. I hope this helps!
Your Money: how to get help
California has an Employment and Taxes page with good info for California employers and for workers. If you’re not in California, check your state’s website for something similar. Updated daily.
update: Here’s a government announcement about revised guidelines for ‘unemployment flexibilities‘.
Also, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for info about car payments, student loans, and paying other bills.
If you’re worried about your net worth, your portfolio, or your retirement, try not to panic. It’s best to just ride this out and keep doing long-term investing, experts say. If you continue to invest now, your nest egg will grow faster after the decline.
Forbes.com has a great round-up of money resources here.
Your Health: what you need to know about The Virus
The good news is that most people who contract COVID-19 will only have mild symptoms and fully recover. As of March 21, 2020, China’s data is showing this.
So, stay healthy and happy: WASH YOUR HANDS, eat lots of vegetables, and be kind to yourself!
And stay at least six feet away from other people for a while. That’s an order!
For more data, here’s a link to the World Health Organization (WHO) federal government’s COVID info portal and to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). There might be updates from the president here. Just sayin’.
Your Time: dealing with lockdown
If you’re working from home: Here’s a quick read from Harvard Business Review with interesting tips and links for parents. Also, try these tips from The Muse.
If your kids are at home: NPR has the answers to some good questions. So does Consumer Reports.
You could even think of this as a good opportunity to try new things or do more of what you already like to do. Play board games every day! Get outside for a walk or bike ride!
Also, ABC News suggests ‘virtual playdates‘. Great idea! My nine-year-old FaceTimed her bestie for 30 minutes today while I did the dishes in peace.
If you need some brain candy: grab a book, dang it.
If you don’t have any books on hand, eBooks and eAudiobooks are free with a library card!
If you don’t have a library card, check your library’s website for ‘eCard registration’; that should give you access to digital collections.
There are also free eBooks to be had on the interwebs. Try ManyBooks.net or OpenLibrary.org. If you’re a classics geek, try Project Gutenberg.
If you’re more of a watcher or listener, try tweaking your TV viewing routine with these strategies from NPR’s Life Kit. I highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter and podcasts.
And Amazon just announced a free kids’ Audible audiobooks collection.
Try these edits
If you have any tips, please share!
Here’s what I’m reminding myself to do this week:
- Take things day by day. Do what you can today. Tomorrow is a new day!
- Try not to obsess over the news and your feeds. Schedule times to check your social media and to check daily updates.
- Look for ways to support your community. Check your county/city website for volunteer opportunities or donation opportunities.
Be well! Take baby steps! Keep editing!
Erica